News

July 13, 2017

4th Annual Collaborative City-Wide Effort Announced to Fight Local Hunger

In recognition of continued and growing community need, The City of Albany, The Food Pantries for the Capital District, KeyBank, St. Peter’s Health Partners, and CDTA announce a collaborative City-Wide food drive beginning July 13 and running through August 3.

The Food Pantries conducted their first food drive in conjunction with the City of Albany in 1980 and have since worked together in a public/private partnership to combat hunger. This initiative continues that partnership. Through food drives like this, The Food Pantries are able to help distribute more than a million meals to families in the City of Albany annually.

Healthy nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the following Albany locations:

Cash donations will also be accepted on The Food Pantries’ website, at their office, and Alive at Five concert events on July 13th, 20th, 27th, and August 3rd. One dollar can provide up to 6.25 pounds of food to the hungry in Albany. $10 can provide food for up to 52 meals! Additionally, a food drive continues through the rest of the Alive at Five concert series.

“When school gets out each summer, the need to feed the children in our community increases significantly. Therefore, each year we partner with The Food Pantries to help meet that need,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “Albany is rich with generous residents who are willing to donate food to hungry children. I urge you to join this coalition of people and drop off your donation at more than20 locations. A small gesture on your part can make a big difference to a hungry family.”“The timing of this City-Wide food drive couldn’t be better. Schools are closed for the summer, and that means additional burden on our hungry neighbors to provide meals for their children,” said Natasha Pernicka, Executive Director for The Food Pantries for the Capital District. “During the summer months, there were more than 33,000 visits by children to our 61 member food pantries.” As our coalition of food pantries is currently maintaining the highest service levels of our 38 year history, we are thankful for this partnership with the City of Albany, CDTA, KeyBank, St. Peter’s Health Partners, and the community to work together to keep our local food pantries’ shelves stocked during this great time of need.”

“A common characteristic of strong communities is the willingness of its citizens to support and care for neighbors through unfortunate times,” said Ruth Mahoney, president, Capital Region Market, KeyBank. “This is why we are proud to join The Food Pantries, the City of Albany, St. Peter’s Health Partners, and CDTA in an effort to fight hunger by collecting healthy, non-perishable food. Not only do we hope to feed the hungry, but we also hope to provide them with the resources they need to realize a brighter future.”

“As we enjoy this beautiful Capital Region summer, it is incumbent upon us to remember that 1 in 10 of our fellow community members struggle with food insecurity,” said Virginia Golden, Chief Executive Officer of St. Peter’s and Albany Memorial Hospitals. “This initiative speaks directly to our organization’s mission of being a compassionate and transforming healing presence in our community. Last year we raised 2,000 pounds of food, and this year we aim to raise 2,500 pounds. We are proud to once again partner with the City of Albany and others to collect food for those in need and, in turn, help assure no child in our area goes hungry this summer.”

“CDTA is proud to help support The Food Pantries for the Capital District with its annual summer food drive,” said David M. Stackrow, CDTA Board Chairman. “CDTA is more than just a bus company, we are integrally part of the communities we serve, and that means helping our neighbors where we can in good times and challenging times. If we can help just one family this summer, not wonder where their next meal is coming from, then we’ve done something to make a positive difference.”